The Class of '85 Interviews Continues with Sharon Buchbinder

Sharon Buchbinder dropped by today to tell us about her Class of '85 release Bonded For Life.

Before I begin with the Q & A, I would like to thank Melba Moon and the ladies of the Fuzzy Pink Slippers Blog for allowing me to be a guest today.

What do you most like about writing? Least like? What made you want to be an author?
I have always been a story-teller. As a child, I got into a lot of trouble for “making things up.” Now, I get rewarded for making things up. I love being able create heroes and heroines that people can relate to--even crazy cat ladies, as I did with Catastrophe, my first publication with The Wild Rose Press (WRP). I think most writers hate, hate, hate revisions. Yep. That’s me, too. But, the professional in me knows that if it makes a stronger story, then that’s what needs to be done. The hardest thing for me to decide is when are the revisions done? Fortunately, I have had some great editors with the WRP and they help me to bring the story to closure.

When did you decide to write romance and how long have you been at it? Also, have you written other genres?
I've been writing fiction since I was in middle school and have the rejection slips to prove it. In high school, I even submitted a script to “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” on yellow-lined paper in pencil. Not surprisingly, that was rejected that, too.

After I graduated with a BA in Psychology and no job, I realized my dreams of working in the attic writing great prose would have to take a back seat to the simple pleasures of eating, drinking, and having a roof over my head. Fast forward a few decades, and I had a career path that would make all but the kindest say, "What were you thinking?" After working in health care delivery for years, I became a researcher, then an academic. I had it all-- a terrific, supportive husband, an amazing son, and a wonderful job. But that itch to write (some call it obsession), kept beckoning me to "come on back" to writing fiction. In the summer of 2004, I spent one whole month away from Baltimore in Florida doing nothing but writing fiction. The resulting effort was the first of many drafts of my first novel, which is now hidden away in a deep, dark drawer.

As an academic, I published numerous non-fiction article and two textbooks. However, I found the road to publication in fiction to be much harder. After I published some short stories in horror and mystery, my friend, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, recommended I join the Maryland Romance Writers (MRW). I joined in 2005 and found friendship, support and the opportunity to develop as an author with MRW and the Romance Writers of America (RWA). Since romance has over a dozen sub-genres, I was able to turn my fascination with horror and mystery into paranormal romance and romantic suspense. I was home.

How do you get over writer’s block?
Most of the time, I have writer’s logorrhea--too many ideas and not enough time. On occasion, I’ve had to stop working on a story to hit deadlines for other projects. That can be a good respite, as when I go back to review the story, I find issues with it and begin the revisions right away. On the rare occasion when I am stuck with where I should go next with a character or a plot, I will write the key questions down before I go to bed and let my dreaming self work on it. That’s been a very helpful technique.

How do you come up with your ideas?
When Kathy Cottrell, the Senior Editor of the Last Rose of Summer line asked me if I’d be interested in creating a story for the Class of ’85, I already had a Latina I really liked from another story. I thought it would be fun if that character could have a cousin who spent her senior year at Summerville High School. And, I have always loved the name Lola Getz. Likewise, I have always been fascinated by heroes who go from the “97 pound weakling” to a muscle man. And, I believe every graduating class has at least one of those guys. Webster (formerly the “Dweebster”) Bond is just such a guy in Bonded for Life, my short story coming on 9/22/10 with the Class of ’85 series.

How did you find a publisher?
I found the Wild Rose Press in 2007 on an Internet search. They were not interested in my first novel--but the editor gave me extensive feedback on the first five pages. I was so impressed by their willingness to work with new authors that I just kept going back. To date, I have contracted three short stories and three novellas with them: Catastrophe, Pigmalion, The Lake Placid Cure, Bonded for Life, Kiss of the Silver Wolf and An Inn Decent Proposal (also the Class of ’85 Series).

On average, how long does it take to write your books?
My short story, Bonded for Life, took about three months while working a 60 plus hour a week day job. Kiss of the Silver Wolf is a novella that started as a short story in 2004--then I put it away, then took it out and reworked it, then put it away, then rewrote and revised it again and again and again. Thanks to Amanda Barnett and her patience and faith in that story, Kiss of the Silver Wolf is in production as we speak.

Who’s your favorite author to read? Favorite book?
I’m an omnivore when it comes to books. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and everything by Heinlein and Bradbury--then I fell in love with King and Koontz. And, then Katherine Neville blew me out of the water with The Eight. I’ve read that book about eight times. Ken Follett’s Pillars of the Earth is one book I’d take with me on a desert island. I read John Irving’s The Hotel New Hampshire on a Chicago city bus, and laughed out loud so hard, the entire bus was staring at me. Oh and how could I forget Caleb Carr and the Alienist or Angel of Darkness? And Janet Evanovich and all her Stephanie Plum books. And Nora Roberts and JD Robb and Heather Graham and Linda Howard and Lisa Ruff and Kathy Love and Christie Kelly and Nalini Singh and Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krantz…and I should stop now.

How do you cope with rejection?
I would like to pretend that I am an adult and ever the professional when I receive a rejection. That would be a lie. I read the letter. I put it in a drawer. I allow myself to feel bad for a little while. I don’t allow myself to wallow in self-pity. That is a waste of time. After a week, I will go back and read the letter again. I will find one nugget of praise, like, “You are a strong writer” and hang onto that. Then I will look at what the agent or editor thought was weak and take that into consideration for revisions and for future stories.

What themes go through your books?
Most of my stories revolve around journeys of discovery of one’s true self and how family and love fits into one’s identity. In Bonded for Life, Lola Getz is a famous artist, blissfully oblivious to the drug cartel wars all around her--until they blow up literally in her backyard. She escapes to the safest little town in the world--Summerville. Instead of being cocooned, she finds herself confronted by some things about her family and has to decide what that means to her and her future.

What would you like to tell readers?
I hope I keep my promise to you as an author and that my stories move you to laughter, anxiety, suspense, tears and the sigh of a satisfying ending. Thank you for reading my stories.
And many thanks for allowing me to be here today on the Fuzzy Pink Slippers blog!
Sharon
Sharon Buchbinder
http://www.sharonbuchbinder.com/
Fireworks for the Mind--Surprising and Sizzling!